[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 123 (Tuesday, June 26, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38062-38063]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-15532]


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FEDERAL MEDIATION AND CONCILIATION SERVICE


Proposed Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment 
Request

AGENCY: Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service.

ACTION: Notice of request for renewal of previously approved collection 
form FMCS F-7.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS) invites

[[Page 38063]]

comments about our intention to request the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) to approve the renewal of the Notice to Mediation Agencies 
Form (FMCS Form F-7; OMB control number 3076-0004). The request will 
seek a three-year extension. There are no changes being submitted with 
this request. FMCS is soliciting comments on specific aspects of the 
collection as described below.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before August 27, 2012.

ADDRESSES: Submit written comments by mail to the Office of Arbitration 
Services, Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, 2100 K Street 
NW., Washington, DC 20427 or by contacting the person whose name 
appears under the section titled FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. 
Comments may be submitted also by fax at (202) 606-3749 or electronic 
mail (email) to [email protected]. All comments must be identified 
by the appropriate agency form number. No confidential business 
information (CBI) should be submitted through email. Information 
submitted as a comment concerning this document may be claimed 
confidential by marking any part or all of the information as ``CBI''. 
Information so marked will not be disclosed but a copy of the comment 
that does contain CBI must be submitted for inclusion in the public 
record. FMCS may disclose information not marked confidential publicly 
without prior notice. All written comments will be available for 
inspection in Room 704 at the Washington, DC address above from 8:30 
a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Vella M. Traynham, Director of 
Arbitration Services, FMCS, 2100 K Street NW., Washington, DC 20427. 
Telephone (202) 606-5111; Fax (202) 606-3749.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Copies of the Notice to Mediation Agencies 
(FMCS Form 7; OMB control number 3076-0004) are available from the 
Office of Arbitration Services by calling, faxing or writing to Vella 
M. Traynham at the address above. Please ask for the form by title and 
agency form number.

I. Information Collection Requests

    FMCS is seeking comments on the following Information Collection 
Request (ICR).
    Title: Notice to Mediation Agencies; FMCS Form F-7; OMB No. 3076-
0004; Expiration date: October 1, 2012.
    Type of Request: Request for Renewal of a previously approved 
notice without changes in the collection.
    Affected Entities: Parties affected by this information collection 
are private sector employers and labor unions involved in interstate 
commerce who file notices for mediation services to the FMCS.
    Frequency: Parties complete this form once, which is at the time of 
an impending expiration of a collective bargaining agreement.
    Abstract: Under the Labor Management Relations Act of 1947, 29 
U.S.C. 158(d), Congress listed specific notice provisions so that no 
party to a collective bargaining agreement can terminate or modify a 
collective bargaining contract, unless the party wishing to terminate 
or modify the contract sends a written notice to the other party sixty 
days prior to the expiration date (29 U.S.C. 158(d)(1)), and offers to 
meet and confer with the other party for the purpose of negotiating a 
new or modified contract (29 U.S.C. 158(d)(2)). The Act requires that 
parties notify FMCS within thirty days after such notice of the 
existence of a bargaining dispute (29 U.S.C. 158(d)(3)). The 1974 
amendments to the National Labor Relations Act extended coverage to 
nonprofit health care institutions, including similar notices to FMCS. 
29 U.S.C. 158(d) and (g). To facilitate handling around 14,400 notices 
a year, FMCS created information collection form F-7. The purpose of 
this information collection activity is for FMCS to comply with its 
statutory duty to receive these notices, to facilitate assignment of 
mediators to assist in labor disputes, and to assist the parties in 
knowing whether or not proper notice was given. The information from 
these notices is sent electronically to the appropriate field manager 
who assigns the cases to a mediator so that the mediator may contact 
labor and management quickly, efficiently, and offer dispute resolution 
services. Either party to a contract may make a request in writing for 
a copy of the notice filed with FMCS. Form F-7 was created to allow 
FMCS to gather desired information in a uniform manner. The collection 
of such information, including the name of the employer or employer 
association, address and phone number, email address, official contact, 
bargaining unit and establishment size, location of affected 
establishment and negotiations, industry, union address, phone number, 
email address and official contact, contract expiration date or renewal 
date, whether the notice is filed on behalf of the employer or the 
union, and whether this is a health care industry notice is critical 
for reporting and mediation purposes.
    Burden Statement: The current annual burden estimate is 
approximately 14,400 respondents. The annual hour burden is estimated 
at 2,400 hours, approximately 10 minutes for each notice to fill out a 
one-page form.

II. Request for Comments

    FMCS solicits comments to:
    (i) Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is 
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, 
including whether the information to be collected will have practical 
utility.
    (ii) Enhance the accuracy of the agency's estimates of the burden 
of the proposed collection of information.
    (iii) Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information 
to be collected.
    (iv) Minimize the burden of the collection of information on those 
who are to respond, including the use of appropriate automated, 
electronic collection technologies or other forms of information 
technology.

III. The Official Record

    The official record is the paper electronic record maintained at 
the address at the beginning of this document. FMCS will transfer all 
electronically received comments into printed-paper form as they are 
received.

    Dated: June 21, 2012.
Jeannette Walters-Marquez,
Attorney-Advisor.
[FR Doc. 2012-15532 Filed 6-25-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6732-01-P